Computer Major - Occupation

[s1n_e3ter]

Question # 1

Hello guys, In my current state, I'm looking for a good accredited college with IT/Networking & Security. I've boiled the search down to this college www.ecpi.edu now my question is this - with this school being an Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools how does that accredidation affect occupations throughout the us? is it extremely important, average, neutral, bad, pick another school? My reasoning is that, I was already enrolled in this college, and completed two semesters. More to the story I dropped, joined the military, and want to start distance education...

Question # 2

With that major in mind, what would be some approved certifications that I could work on at my own time? I'm looking at going to this school (since its down the road) www.savannahtech.edu These are the certs that are available.

- Cisco Specialist
- Computer Support Technician
- Microsoft Office Specialist Technician
- Website Technician
- Windows Networking Technician

From that list, I would either choose Cisco Spec or Windows Networking Tech. Which would be in the higher demand, and would look better on a resume and bring in more money? Thanks for your time guys, please be respectful, and give me some good information.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

I don't know any of those schools or ever heard of them. I would attend Devry if you can afford them (financial aid). That's my top pick. Get the Cisco CCNA. Those other degrees all sound the same. If you want to get into Microsoft, might as well just get MCSE (long and hard) or start out with a simple A+ cert, or Network + cert.

 

[DJ-CHRIS1]

I don't know any of those schools or ever heard of them. I would attend Devry if you can afford them (financial aid). That's my top pick. Get the Cisco CCNA. Those other degrees all sound the same. If you want to get into Microsoft, might as well just get MCSE (long and hard) or start out with a simple A+ cert, or Network + cert.

CCNA is very basic and won't let you do much.

 

[hypetech]

CCNA is very basic and won't let you do much.

wow, have you even heard of Cisco? The CCNA is far from basic...Granted a CCNP is the ultimate goal. The CCNA is a very highly respected certification in the industry.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

I've gone through that course and it's pretty helpful. You gain a significant insight on how a network is created from scratch. You actually setup a WAN and a LAN within your company so they can communicate throughtout the US with other branches. There's no Microsoft involvement in this course as it is strictly network hardware config. If you want to learn how to setup network services or assign users to accounts, that's a Microsoft Windows course. Cisco doesn't cover that part. You work with primarily a console, switches, and routers. You go through general network cabling (you actually make cables and test for continuity and then learn how to route them in walls and connecting them through network faceplates), creation of IP subnet techniques, router filters (Access LIsts and such), VLANs with Cisco powered switches, and most important---troubleshooting connectivity with WAN/LAN. After setting up a complex network, you test it to see if you can communicate to the other end. We use a series of troubleshooting commands on our consoles to determine that.

Most of us fail to look at the "Physical Layer", lol and the stupid DTE/DCE gets mixed up. Once we assign the port IP to it's corresponding DTE/DCE, then it works. So always check the physical connections, lol. A lot of us take that for granted that everything is plugged in when half the time, it's plugged in to the wrong machine. You should see our lab. We have cables running all over the place!!!! It can be confusing as to where and what they're plugged into. Other times, connection pops loose because we walk over them sometime and break the connection. Everything is hands on in the labs which makes it so fun and you have online Cisco curriculums to guide you along the way.

 

[DJ-CHRIS1]

wow, have you even heard of Cisco? The CCNA is far from basic...Granted a CCNP is the ultimate goal. The CCNA is a very highly respected certification in the industry.

Yes, routing and switching is my speciality area. CCNA is a lowline certification that everyone has in the industry.

Also,CCNP is just the midline certifaction, actually means something. CCNE is the ultimate certifacation (Cisco Certified Network Enginner).

CCNE is what I am at one day, be one of the few holders of this certifaction. It will take years upon years however, and time.

I also run cisco routers here, as I have an 831 and 2502 (2502 is now trash though)

 

[s1n_e3ter]

Helpful info guys. The only reason I've chosen that school is because of the time that I've already applied into it. This is only an Associates degree. I just want to get something that will enable me to temporarily get a job, so that I can work towards a Bachelor's from a respective college with high regards. How does the accredidation stand for that school? Out of the two certs, the Windows would be in higher demand wouldn't it? I'm basing that judgement from the wide use of it... Although the certs that I listed are they even CCNA, or MSCE? sounds to me that there just a generic cert that says you're "qualified" am I right? thanks.